Nielmar de Oliveira
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Rio - Petrobras' average daily petroleum and natural gas production, domestically and abroad, amounted to 2,231,996 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) in August. According to a note issued yesterday (15) by the company, this result reflects an increase of 9.3% in comparison with August, 2004, although it represents 2.4% less than in July of this year.

Average daily production in domestic fields came to 1,968,162 BOE, 10% more than in August, 2004, and 2.8% less than in July of this year.

In the note Petrobras informs that average daily petroleum production in Brazil was 1,695,700 BOE, 2.9% less than in July. Domestic natural gas production in August attained a daily average of 43,318,000 cubic meters, 1.7% less than in July.

According to Petrobras, the lower figures for August in comparison with July, in both instances, were caused by programmed shutdowns in platforms P-18 and P-20, located in the Marlin Field, in the Campos Basin off the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro, together with operational problems in three wells in the Caratinga Field. The three wells are interconnected with the P-48 platform, also located in Campos.

Petrobras also informed that average daily petroleum production abroad amounted to 165,824 barrels, stable in relation to July. Average daily natural gas production abroad came to 16,652,000 cubic meters, 1.9% more than in July.

Translation: David Silberstein